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DAO 65:137-152 (2005)
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Abstract
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Dissemination of triactinomyxons (Myxozoa) via oligochaetes used as live food for aquarium fishes
Sascha L. Hallett1,3, Stephen D. Atkinson1,3, Christer Erséus2,4, Mansour El-Matbouli1,*
1Institute of Zoology, Fish Biology and Fish Diseases, University of Munich, Kaulbachstrasse 37, 80539 Munich, Germany 2Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm,
Sweden 3Present address: Center for Fish Disease Research, Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Nash Hall 220, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA 4Present address: Department of Zoology, Gothenburg
University, Box 463, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
*Corresponding author. Email: el-matbouli@lmu.de
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ABSTRACT: Freshwater tubifex oligochaetes sold as live food for aquarium fishes were purchased from several pet shops in Munich, Germany, over a 1 yr period (March 2001 to February 2002). These samples were screened for parasitic infections of
actinosporean myxozoans to gauge the possibility of parasite dispersal via this route. Of 7 samples, 6 contained infected oligochaetes; waterborne spores were present in 5 samples at the time of purchase. In the laboratory, 12 different types of
actinosporeans were released by the oligochaetes. These could be assigned to 4 collective groups: triactinomyxon, aurantiactinomyxon, raabeia and hexactinomyxon; 4 novel triactinomyxons are described herein, a fifth triactinomyxon has been described
earlier. Phenotypic descriptions of the spores are accompanied by molecular sequence data (18S rDNA). Descriptions of the other actinosporean types appear elsewhere. The worms sold as tubifex originated from eastern European countries and were
identified as a mix of Tubifex tubifex, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and L. udekemianus. Sale of live worms (and their accompanying parasite load) has clearly the potential to facilitate introduction both of parasites and suitable hosts to new
areas.
KEY WORDS: Actinosporean · Myxozoa · Triactinomyxon · Oligochaete · Parasite dissemination · Pet shop
Full text in pdf format
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Published in DAO Vol.
65, No. 2
(2005) on June 30
Print ISSN: 0177-5103; Online ISSN: 1616-1580.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2005
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